Bomber&#39;s training device



E. H. BARRY.

BOMBERS TRAINING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I8, I9I9.

PatntedJune 14, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. H. BARRY.

BOIVIBERS TRAINING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-18,1919. 1,381,158. Patented June 14, 1923..

3 SHEETSSHEET Z E. H. BARRY. BOMBERS TRAiNING DEVICE.

1 APPLICATION FILED FEB.18.1919- wx s f fiJ u Patented Jun 14, 1921.

a SHEETS-SHEET 3- i fiitl ll EDWARD H. BARRY, OF NEVITON, IvEASSACI-IUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE "UNITED STATES.

BOMBERS TRAINING DEVICE.

Specification-0f Letters Patent.

Patented June it, 1921.

Application filed. February 18, 1919. Serial No. 277,735.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. BARRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newton, Massachusetts, have invented new and useful improvements in Bombers Training Devices, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention contemplates a device for training aviators in the art of dropping bombs or other missiles from aircraft onto targets such, for instance, as submarine vessels or trenches.

Before an aviator reaches a high degree of efliciency in dropping bombs or missiles f aircraft onto targets, considerable exp :ience and practice is necessary, as it is requisite that the pilot be thoroughly schooled in steering his craft into proper position relative to the target; that t is observer or sighting member, where such member accompanies the pilot of the aircraft, be highly trained in properly sighting the target and conveying to the pilot directions whereby the pilot may bring his craft into proper position, and that the member who is dropping the bomb or missile, whether he be the pilot or observer, have the requisite experience in correctly estimating among other things, the length of time required for the bomb to fall to the ground, due consideration being given to the speed, the height, and the direction of travel of the aircraft and targets so that the missile, having regard to its trajectory, will be dropped amply in advance of the target to make adirect hit. Furthermore, difficulty in maintaining a bombing sight on a target and steering the aircraft into the correct position to drop a bomb onto the target is met with due to the to that the aircraft rocks and sways and is very unsteady and the target at times uiclrly changes its direction of travel, the aatter being the case where the target is a submarine vessel, or the like. The present practice of training aviators in the art of dropping bombs by making actual air flights and dropping missiles at targets is very expensive, and while such training is necesary, it may for purposes of instruction and reliminary practice, be supplemented with l use of a device constructed in accordance the present invention.

is the aim of the present invention to provide a device with which aviators may receive preliminary instructions and training in bomb dropping without making actual flights in aircrafts, and to this end the inventlon contemplates a structure wherein a practice or drill in the art of dropping bombs may be carried out under conditions simulating those which are met with in ac tual practice.

To accomplish the purposes of the present invention 1 provide a device comprising briefly, an aviators support movable to simulate aeroplane movement and which might be termed a miniature aircraft operated by a pilot under the direction of an observer or sighting member, capable of substantially the same movements as are met with during actual flights, except that it does not move forwardly; means, comprising an endless belt, for moving the targets toward the aircraft to give the illusion that the latter is moving toward the targets; and means for guiding the missile, representing a bomb, so that the missile will, in falling from the aircraft onto the belt, require a space of time corresponding on the scale selected, to that necessary for missiles to alight in real bombing operations, the entire structure be ing preferably made on the same scale of measurements so as to approach as closely as possible, actual conditions in bombing operations. it

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to comprehend the underlying features of the invention that they may embody the same into the numerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by this device, drawings depicting a preferred form have been annexed as apart of this disclosure, and in such drawings like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all of the views, of which Figure 1 is a top plan view my entire device.

Fig. 2 is an elevation view of the miniature aircraft, its mounting, and the tracking upon which it may move. I

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a trackway upon which the miniature aircraft may move.

Fig. t is a central sectional view taken through Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a device for changing the courses of the targets, and,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the missile dropping device,

Referring to the drawings in detail, the

means for moving the targets toward the aviators support comprises an endless belt 10 passing over pulleys 11, one ormore of such pulleys being driven from a suitable motor 12. As in actual bombing operations, aircrafts fly at various speeds, and it is the purpose of this invention to provide a device wherein actual conditions are simulated as closely as possible, a speed changing mechanism, comprising in part the cones i! 3 is interposed between the motor 12 and the pulleys 11 so that the speed of relative movement between the aircraft and the targets (the targets in the drawings being designated by character 1e and representing miniature submarine vessels) maybe changed at will. The belt 10 may be of any suitable construc tion, three strips 15 being illustrated as secured to the belt so as to strengthen the same and facilitate driving thereof.

The targets l lare moved toward the aviators support for the reason that, the device being on a miniature scale, to move the aviators support at a speed corresponding, on the scale selected, to'that met with in actual practice would involve many diificulties,

while the targets maybe readily moved toward the aviators support at the desired speed giving, for purposes of instruction and practice, the same relative movements be tween the aviators support and target as are experienced in real warfare.

Positioned at one end of the belt and extending transversely thereof is a trackway 16 which may be of any suitable construction, that shown in the drawings being disclosed by way of illustration only. The

ends of the rails of the tracking curve updiate the ends of the platform 20 are the brackets or standards 21 in which are journaled the trunnions 22 of the miniature aircraft designated by the numeral 23. It will be noted that the platform 20 and the aviators support 23 carried thereby, may be rocked about a longitudinal axis on the posts 19 and the aviators support 23 may rock about a central transverse axis in the brackets 21, so that by combining these movements the aviators support 23 may roll and sway similarly to a real aircraft. K

For the purpose of causing the truck 18 to move back and forth upon its trackway '16 and thus carry the aviators support 23 transversely to the direction of travel of the belt 10, an upright spindle 24: is journaled in 1,3a1,1ss

a vertical bearing 25 located adjacent the center of the truck 18, passes through enlarged openings 26 and 27 in platform 20 and the floor of the aviators support 23, respectively, and carries at its upper end a horizontally disposed steering wheel 28, which may be operated by the feet of the aviator who sits upon a chair 29 in that part wvardly of the trunnions 22 is a pair of standards 33 to which is, pivoted an operating lever 3 1, said lever being of U-shape V with the crossbar thereotin an elevated position. For the purpose of rocking the aviators support23 about a longitudinal axis, namely, in the posts 19, the crossbar oi the operating lever 34 carries on the side toward the pilots chair 29 a wheel 35, having a pulley 36 about which iswrapped a rope or cable 37. The opposite ends of the cable 37 pass over guide pulleys 38 secured to the upper ends of the vertical portions of the operating lever 34, through registering openings 39 and 40 in the floor of the aviators support 23 and platform 20 respectively, and are secured to the truck 18 as most clearly shown in Fig. 4c. 7

To rock the aviators support 23 about a transverse axis, namely, about'the line of the trunnions 22, a cable l1 connected to each of the lower ends of the lever 3a, is led forwardly of the aviators support 23, passed about pulleys 4:2 journaled in openings in the floor of the aviators support 23, and secured to the platform 20, and similarly disposed cables 41 tonnect the lower ends of the lever 34: with the rear portion of the platform 20.

In the present illustrative disclosure of my invenigion l have shown the aviators support as being constructed to acronnnodate an observer or sighting member and a pilot but it is to be understood that the obsc 'cr may be dispensed with and with slight nniditications 'ii the structure, the piloti in addition to steering the maihine, may 'ht the target and drop the ll'llSSllO. Prefer-- ably, however, the arrangement herein shown is used. ll he sighting devire may be of any suitable construction, out it is shown conventionally as being constructed along the same general lines as the bomb siglit shown in the application for Letters Patent of the United Statesliled November 13, 1918, by Arthur H. Bocttcher, Serial No, 263,102. As stated in said application, it is found by experience that the most eiiicient type of bombing craft is that in which the observers cockpit is in the bow with the pilots cabin in the waist of the body for the reason that the observer is relieved of other duties at the time of sighting, while the pilot merely manipulates the aircraft. The device disclosed in said Boettcher ap plication comprises briefly a sig device located in front of the observers cockpit, and an indicating device in front of the pilot, the parts being so positioned d arranged that after the observer locates the target, he thereafter continues to point the sighting device thereon, and the relative po sition of the sighting device with respect to the longitudinal axis of the machine will be transmitted to the indicating mechanism. In the drawings herewith the sighting device is shown conventionally as havingavertical bar calibrated for altitude and rotatable about its own axis, a line sighting member 66 pivoted for movement on the vertical bar, a drift bar 67 adapted to be set in the direction of actual flight of aircraft over the earth and being calibrated for ground speed, a point sighting member 68 adapted to be adjusted on the drift bar according to ground speed, and 'a compass associated with the drift bar and point sighting member, as described in said application. The indicating devise, designated by the numeral 70 connected to the sighting device by the connections 71 (see Fig. 1) may comprise a series of electric lamps on which the position of the sighting member is indicated.

in actual practice, the direction and the velocity of wind having been determined, the drift bar is maintained by the observer in the right direction to indicate the actual line of flight of the craft. The sight men her 68 is automatically corrected for ground speed and the vertical bar 65 for altitude.

V In a real bombing plane, the drift bar will,

of course, be at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the craft when the wind is in a direction to cause the craft to drift. When the line sighting member 66 is in line with the point sighting member 68, the time at which the bomb is to be dropped is indi cated.

In the present illustrative disclosure of my invention, since the aeroplane moved transversely to the direction of travel of the targets, and at the time of dropping the missile representing the bomb, the will be in alinement with the longitndinal axis of the aviators support, the (rift bar 67 may be maintained at all times in alinement with the longitudinal axis of the aviators upport. This. however, will permit the oberver to operate the sighting device in same manner as if an actual flight were be ing made. it will thus be seen that my imof time which it takes for the missile to drop after it is released. This means, in the present instance, comprises a spiral hollow tube 44 connected to the forward end of the truck 18, with its upper end located adjacent the sighting device. The upper end of the guide or tube as. carries a missile receiving receptacle to having a releasing mechanism d6, which, when operated by the observer, permits a missile, in the present illustrative disclosure, a small ball d7 to pass from the receptacle l5 into the spiral tube a l. The lower end of the spiral tube 44; is led over to the center of the front of the aviators support 23 so that this end of the tube overhangs the belt 10 and is immediately beneath the sighting device, as most clearly shown in Fig. 4:. For the purpose of varying the time of flight of missiles so to corre spond to the assumed heights of the aviators support, the tube 4-4: has a plura v of branches 13 and gates 43 for changing the course of the missiles, as most clearly shown in Fig. 6.

As in actual warfare the target frequently changes its course, this being particularly true wien the targetis a vessel such as a submarine vessel, means for changing at will, the course of the miniature'submarine vessels 1% on the belt 10 is provided and this means comprises a horizontally disposed rod 4.8 carried by a pair of standards 49, the height of the rod being'such that when placed over the belt 10, it is in close proxi1nity with the surface of the upper run thereof so that it will be engaged by the targets 14. The rod 48 has a bent up portion 50 which isof sufficient height to permit the target to pass therethrough. The rods 48 are adjustable, as shown in Fig. 5, so that they may be placed at any an de across the belt. These rods are camouflaged so that the bomber will be unable to predict the course. It is of course understood that any other suitable means for changing the courses of the targets 14- may be employed. Any num-- ber of the rods &8 may be used and placed at will so as to cause the targets to follow a tortuous or other selected path. The targets 14 are placed on the end of the belt remote from the aviators support 23, and as they are moved forwardly they engage the rods 48, which are diagonally positioned and are guided thereby diagonally of the belt until they reach the bowed portions 50 through which they pass.

The operation of my improved device will be fully understood from the foregoing description taken in connection with the following cxplanation:--

The pilot having taken his seat in the avi ators support and the observer his position in the forward end of the craft, and the belt 10 having been set into operation with the rods 48 positioned to change the course of the targets, a miniatrnre submarine vessel 14 is placed upon the moving belt at the end remote from the aviators support. The observer trains the line sighting member 66 of the sighting device on the t rget and as the target changes its course, the observer, in maintaining the sight on the target, communicates to the pilot the direction in which the aviators support is to be moved, and thereupon the pilot rotates the steering wheel 28 thereby taking up one end of the cable 31 and playing out the other end to cause the aviators support to move'upon the tracliway 16 transversely of the direction of travel to the belt 10. At the same time, the pilot, by turning the wheel 35 and moving the lever 3a to and fro, causes the aviators support to rock and sway so that the observer will meet substantially the same difficulties in maintaining the sight on the target as is experienced in actual warfare. The aviators support having been brought by the pilot under the direction of the observer to the position where the sighting device is at the dropping angle, that is, when the sight bar 66 is lined up with the lead 68, the observer operates the releasing mechanism 443 whereupon the ball it passes into the tube 4.4. through which it rolls onto the belt 10. The gates 43 of course, have been positioned to cause the missile to require the proper time in falling. The ball 4'? falls onto the target 14: making a direct hit, it

the estimations and directions of the observer are correct. An instructor may be positioned adjacent the belt so as to observe the point on the bolt on which the missile drops, and the distance which the missile misses the target so that the errors made by the observer may be pointed out to him. The device may be used to instruct a large number of men at the same time and to this end seats or bleachers may be con structed along either side of the belt 10. In Fig. 1, bleachers, designated by the numeral .51 and shown in dotted lines, are illustrated positioned alongside one side of the belt.

What I claim is V 1. In an aviators training device, the combination of means for moving the same,

an aviators support mounted thereon, and means for causing the support to simulate airplane movements with amoving target,

means formoving the target toward the device, and means on the support for controlling the dropping of bombs onto the target.

2. In an aviators training device, the combination of means for moving the same, an aviators support mounted thereon, means for moving said support laterally, means for moving the target relative to said support and means for controlling the dropping of bombs onto the target, said last mentioned means including means whereby the rate of fall may be varied.

3. In an aviators training device, the combination of means for moving the same, an aviators support mounted thereon, means for moving said support laterally. means for moving the target relative to said support, means for controlling the dropping of bombs onto the target, said means comprising a spiral path through which the bombs are dropped and means for regulating the rate of passage of the bomb through said means.

t. In an aviators training device, the combination of an aviators support, means for causing the support to move to simulate aeroplane movement, a target, a movable support tor said target whereby the target moves relatively toward the aviators support, means for dropping bombs onto the target and means for causing a relatively lateral movement of the target with respect to its support. I

5. In an aviators training device, the

combination of an aviators support, means for causing the support to move to simulate aeroplane movement, a target, a movable support for said target wherebythe target moves relatively toward the aviators support,means for dropping bombs onto the target, means for causing a relatively lateral movement of the target with respect to its support and means for varying the rate of fall of the bomb to the target. 6. In. an aviators training device, the combination of an endless belt, means for moving same, a target mounted on said belt and adapted to move therewith, an aviators support adjacent one end of the belt, means for causing said support to simulate aeroplane movement with respect to the target and meanson the support tor controlling the dropping otli bombs onto the target.

7. In an aviators training device, the combination of an aviators support, means whereby said support may be moved laterally and tilted in a direction fore and aft of the support thereby to simulate aeroplane movement, a a movable support positioned combination of an aviators support, means whereby said support may be moved laterally and tilted in a direction fore and aft of the support thereby to simulate aeroplane movement, a movable support positioned relatively in front of said aviators support, a target carried by said support movable relatively to the aviators support, means on the aviators support for controlling the dropping of bombs onto said target and means for varying the rate of "fall of bombs according to the pretended height of the aeroplane above the target.

Signed at Washington, District of Columbia, this 26th day of November, 1918.,

EDWARD H. BARRY. 

